Comparative analysis of leaf proteomes between tobacco plants growing in different ecological regions of China
不同生态区烟草叶片蛋白质组学的比较

To explore the molecular mechanism of tobacco aroma style formation, protein profiles of mature leaves of tobacco (Nicotina tobaccum L. cv. K326) plants grown respectively in Henan province (Central China) and Fujian province (South China), were compared using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Fifty-one proteins were found to be differentially expressed between tobacco plants from the two different ecological regions. Among them, 15 proteins were up-regulated and 2 were specific to Henan tobacco leaves, while 25 proteins were up-regulated and 9 were specific in Fujian tobacco leaves. Next, the differentially expressed proteins were subjected to MALDI-TOF analysis for identification. It turned out 25 proteins matching homologous sequences in MSDB and NCBInr database. In particular, several proteins involved in chloroplast development, pigment metabolism, photosynthesis were up-regulated in Fujian tobacco leaves, while proteins involved in glycolytic pathway were relatively abundant in Henan tobacco leaves. In addition, some specific proteins related to stress responses were identified both in Henan and Fujian tobacco plants. Thus, the different expression patterns of leaf proteomes may contribute to the formation of special tobacco aroma style. To our knowledge, this was the first attempt to explore the mechanism of tobacco aroma style formation on a proteome level.